Eighteen gang members were arrested this week in the southeast Fort Worth, Texas, on charges outlined in several federal indictments returned by a grand jury last week, and unsealed this week. Law enforcement officers with the Fort Worth Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation began making the arrests and executing federal search warrants early Wednesday morning.

This week’s arrests are the culmination of a year-long investigation by the Fort Worth Safe Streets Task Force that focused on drug distribution networks of various sets of the Crips street gang, which have a reputation of violence and are known for operating organized drug distribution networks. During the execution of the federal search warrants this week, more than $15,000 in cash, more than 200 grams of crack cocaine, more than 40 grams of heroin, more than 15 pounds of marijuana and 28 firearms, including fully automatic assault rifles, were seized.

The following defendants have been arrested on various federal charges including conspiracy to possess and distribute crack cocaine and distribution of crack and powder cocaine:

Each made an initial appearance before the Honorable Charles Bleil, United States Magistrate Judge, in Fort Worth and all remain in federal custody

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. Generally, most of the defendants, if convicted, face up to 40 years imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the excellent cooperative investigative work of the Fort Worth Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J.Worley.